Automatic transmitter



Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oral c151.

FREDERICK SKINNER, or BARRANCO, PERU, Assrenon or ONE-HALF To ALL AMERICA CABLES, Inc, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A conrorm'rron or new YORK.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMITTER.

Application filed April 22, 1921. Serial No. 463,552.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnpncaion SmNNElh a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Barranco, Peru, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Transmitters, of which the following is a. full, clear, and exact description such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert'ains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to t 'ansmitters and more particularly to automatic telegraphic transmitters of the type employing 'a perforated tape.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an improved transmitterof the class mentioned whereby greater uniformity and regularity of movement of the transmitting elements are accomplished.

Another object is to provide in a. transn'iitter of the class mentioned, improved driving means for the transmitting elements, operating positively and with precision.

Another object is to provide in an automatic transmitter improved means for accuracy and delicacy of adjustment of the contact elements whereby adjustments for variations in line conditions are accomplished.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter in 'conneclion with the detailed description.

The in rent ion accordingly consists in'tlic features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the appliparts, the magnet being connected for intermittent energization by any approved means. v

In the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed in the accompanying draw? lngs,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the transmitter, taken approximately on the 'line 11'of Fig. 2, showing in side elevation the v driving'motor and transmitterelements;

Fig. 2 is atop plan View of the same;

Fig. 3 is a simplified diagrammatic view of system employing the improved automat c transmitter;

Fig. 1 is a view of a portion of thetape employed in the transmitter;

Fig. 5 is a top plan viewshowing a modification of the invention;

liiig. 6 is a perspective. view offlthe same, ant

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional View taken approximately on the line 7+7 of Fig. 5.v

Referring to the drawing, and first to embodiment ofFigures 1 and 2, a p'a-inof base plates 1 and Qare provided spaced apart by bars 3 and preferably carrying suit-able terminal binding screws (not shown) for attachingthe terminal leads. .Pivoted contact rocker arms a and 5 are mounted on an insulating block 6 secured to the inner face of plate '2 carrying at one end cont acts 7 cooperating with stationary rontacts 8 on supporting blocks!) and 10 also mounted on" said insulating block. at the opposite ends of these contact arn'is arepivotally connected upright cont billing rods 11 and 12l1aving "insulated joints 13 intermediate their ends and adapted to .cooperate at their upper ends with. a perforated tape 1-4:. The

tape may be supported and-guided in any desirable manner by horizontal plates car ried by the base plates, one ofthese plates 15 being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Y

A rotary shaft 17 is mounted in plate 1 and a bracket 18 secured to said plate, carry ing at oneend thereof a toothed sprocket wheel 19, the teeth thereof extending through the plate 15 into position to engage in a series of central openings 11% in the tape. The shaft also carries a driving ratchet wheel 20, and a holding ratchet and direction pawl 21 preventing retrograde movement of the shaft. The control rods 11 and 12 are spaced at opposite sides of the sprocket wheel 19, their upper ends extending through openings in plate 15 in alignment with the series of openings 14 and 14 in the tape 14 in a manner understood in the art.

The driving motor for the tape and transmitter contacts preferably comprises an electro-magnet 22 suitably carried by a plate 23, being longitudinally adjustable by means of a threaded rod 24 and nut 25, the rod being attached to the magnet and extending through the plate 23. Adjustment of the nut will positively move the magnet in one direction, this movement being opposed by a spiral spring 26, tensioned between the magnet and plate 23 and tending to separate the same. The armature 2-7 is mounted on a pivoted arm 28 carrying at its upper end a spring pressed pawl 29 positioned to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 20. The movement of the armature toward the core is opposed by a spring 30 having an adjustable tensioning screw 31, and the throw of the arm is adjusted by means of a. screw 32 on one side thereof. It is obvious that a similar adjusting screw may be provided on the opposite side, if desired.

The contact arms'are biased to contacting position as by springs 33 and are provided at their ends with rollers 34 and 35 of agate or similar material. Inclined adjustablescrews 36 on arm 28 are arranged to contact with these rollers to separate contacts 7 and 8 when the armature moves away from the magnet and to release the same to the influence of springs 33 and tape 14 when the armature moves in the opposite under magnet energization. lVhen the magnet is energized it will be obvious that contact arm 4 or 5 will operate to close its contact and send an impulse over the line providing there is an opening in the tape in alignment with the end of the corresponding rod 11. or 12. If there is no tape opening in alignment with either of the rods 1.1 or 12 the contacts will be held apart by engagement of the rods with the body of the tape. It will also be clear that the in-' terval of contact relative to the interval of separation of'the contacts 7 and 8 may be readily adjusted by means of screws 36.

This is an advantageous feature since it is desirable to secure relatively long intervals of contact for satisfactory operation of a distant receiver where the line resistance is high .or insulation low, or where other conditions exist giving rise to excessive current leakage. I

Fig. 4 of the drawing shows a typical installation including the improved transmitter T and cable sounder S with electrical connections 38, 39 and 40 there-between.

A. source of energy B is also provided and.

the electrical conductors are connected to receiver magnets 41 and 42 one or the other receiving an impulse depending on which contact is closed at the transmitter. It will be understood that the impulse sent out by the closing of one of the transmitter contacts is distinguishable at the sounder as a dot while that sent out by the other contact is distinguishable as a dash so that signals can be sent out in combinations of dots and dashes in the Morse code or in any other code in a manner well known in the art. The terminals 43, 44 and 45 of the sounder are arranged to be connected to the line or cable, to earth, and to a source of energy, respectively.

Intermittent energization of the magnet 22 is accomplished by means of a circuit interrupter I connected to a source of energy B and to the terminals of said magnet. This interrupter may be of any approved form, but is preferably of the Gulstad type delivering impulses timed by the resistances R and R and condenser C in a manner well known in the art. It is obvious that the'resistances or the condenser or both resistances and condenser may be adjustable so as to vary the frequency of the impulses delivered to the magnets. Reciprocating movement of any desired frequency is thus imparted to the pivoted arm 28 and to the contact arms 4 and 5 while intermittent movement is imparted to the tape 14.

The operation of the improved transmitter is embodied in the foregoing description and reiteration thereof is believed to be unnecessary to a complete understanding by those skilled in the art.

The embodiment of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 and corresponding references with primes are employed to designate corresponding parts. Some parts, however, vary in construction and will be described in detail. In this embodiment contact rocker arms 4 and 5 are mounted on an insulating block 6 on the outer face of base plate 2 and are urged toward contacting positions by springs 33. As shown in Fig. 7, the pivoted arm 28 is provided with a laterally extending arm secured thereto carrying pivotally at its free end a link 51 threaded at its upper end for the reception of an adjusting nut 51 and extending through an opening in an arm 52 of a frame 53 pivoted at shaft 54 to the base plates 1 and 2. This frame is provided with arms 55 and 56 carried by the pivot shaft 54 supporting at their free ends a transverse rod 57 having an extending portion passing through an opening in plate 2 and overlying the contact arms in position to restrain upward movement thereof.

As shown in Fig. 6 the tape 14 passes over the surface of a plate 58 carried by uprights 59 on one of the base plates and l. if D the tape.

sprocket wheel extending through openings.

in plate 58 into position to cooperate with A hinged guide block 60 may be arranged to swing down over the tape to confine and guide the same in proper posi-' tion. Also an adjusting block 61 is slidably mounted on the underside of plate 58 being provided in its forward edge with notches to receive the control rods for bringing'thcm adjustably into proper alignment with the tape and sprocket wheel. The control rods are pressed into engagement with the block 61 by springs 62 and the blocltis adjustable by means of a threaded rod'6i" attached thereto passing through an opening in upright 59 and provided with an adjusting nut 64. A spiral spring 65 is stressed between the adjusting block and-upright tending to separate the same.

The operation of this modification is similar to that ofFigs. 1 to 3 and will be obvious from the above description. However, it will be noted that the relative intervals of the completed and interrupted circuit are varied by adjusting the nut 51 on vthe end of link 51 thus varying the interval of restraint exerted on contact rocker arms 4 and ,5 by engagement therewith of the projecting end of rod 57. As the armature is attracted it will be noted that the arm 50 and link :51 rise leaving the rod 57 free to be raised by the contact arms acting under the influence of the tape and their respective springs 3,35.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyaapparently widely different embodiments o'tthis invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mat.- ter contained in the abovedescription ,or

shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in ,ahunting sense. I

It is also to be understood that the, nn-- guage used in the following claims 1S ntend- I ed to cover all of the generic andyspecific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter o'flanguage, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. In a transmitter, in combination, a rocking contact bar for controlling the transmitter contacts to produce line impulses, acontrolling rod pivoted to said bar, a controlling tape adaptedto cooperate with said bar to control said contacts, a reciprocatory motor for driving said contact bar tioned in the connecti011 between said ar1naand said tape in sy nchronism therewith, means for. cefiectmg uninterrupted operation of said motor, and an adjusting mechanisnr connected between saidinotor and said contact-bar for vary ng the relative periods Qif' completed and interrupted' circuits,

2.1m a transmitter, in combination, 'a a. rocking con-tact :bar for controlling [the trans mitter contaotto produce line impulsespa controlling d pivoted to said bar, anon.-

trolling tape adapted to-cooperate with saidbar to control said CDIl'tfiGQlIleanStO130i'- mallyybias said controlling rod into position. I

to cooperate with saidtapc, an electric motor wvilth an electrosmagnet and a reciprocatory armature for intermittently advancing said- .tape, means .operative'ly connected to said armature and to said contact bar tor a'estrain ing said controlling "rod from cooperation with said tape in opposition to sa1d biasing means coincident with a tape advancing. stroke of the motor, and for withdrawing said restraint coincident with a reverse stroke, andan adjusting means positioned in mally bias said controlling rod into position to c perate with said tape, an electric anot tor with an electro-.-magnet and a reciprolcjatory armature for intermittently advancing said "tape, and means operatively peonnectedto saidarmatul-e and to .s, d contact bar 'for'irestraining said controlling'rod from cooperatlon with said tape in oppositionnto said biasing means coincident with ,a tape advancing strokeiof the motor d for withdrawing said restraint coincident i "th ;a we; verse st1-oke,.and an adjusting means 10, f,-

tureand contact her to vary the'f itervay i contact, said adjusting means including a roller and an adjustable member cooperating tlmrewitlrg- 1 V 4, I na transniittcrin combination, a rocking contact bar for controlling the transmitter contact to produce line impulscafa controlling rod pivoted to said bar, a-controll-ing tape adapted to cooperate with said .f

bar to control said contact, a spring to normal y bia is dco trpilling rod into position t0 fi v p lt W h a d tapean electric inotor with ,electr magnet, and a .ieci procatory armature for intermittently advanci aid tape, a springopea ivelyconnected to said reciprocatory armature for restraining said controlling rod from cooperating with said tape in opposition to said biasing means coincident with a tape advancing,

stroke of the motor, and for withdrawing said restraint coincident with a reverse stroke, and means for adjusting the relative 1 ling tape adapted tocooperate with said ban to'control said contact, a spring to normally bias said controlling rod into position to cooperate with said tape, an electric motor with an electro-magnet and a reciprocatory armature for intermittently advancing said tape, a spring operatively connected to said reciprocatory armature torrestraining said controlling rod from cooperating with said tape in opposition to said biasing means coincident with a tape advancing stroke of the motor, and for withdrawing said restraint coincident with a reverse stroke, means for adjusting the relative positions of said magnet and armature, and an adjusting means;-

in the connection between said armature and contact bar to vary the interval ofcontact, said last mentioned adjusting means including a roller and'an adjustable member 00- operative therewith.

- 6. In a transmitter,. in combination, a rocking contact bar, a tape for controlling said contact. bar, a motor for intermittently advancing said tape, said motor including a magnet and a reciprocatory armature, an adjusting screw located externally of said transmitter for adjusting the respective positions of said magnet and armature, a spring for exerting a force on said armature in opposition to the force exerted thereon by said magnet, and an adjusting means operable externally of the transmitter for adjusting the tension of said spring.

7 In a transmitter, in combination, a rocking contact bar, a tape for controlling said contact bar, a motor for intermittently advancing said tape, said motor including a vmagnet and a reciprocatory armature,an adjusting screw located externally"on said transmitter l oradjusting the'relative positions of said magnet and armature, a spring for exerting a force on said armature in opposition to the force exerted thereon by said magnet, an adjusting means operable exter nally of the transmitter for adjusting the tension of said spring, and a control rod connected to said contact bar and cooperable' with said tape.

8. Ina transmitter, in combinatlon, a circu1t lnterruptlng means including a rocking contact bar, a motor having a reciprocatory armature for drivingsaid contact bar, and

a driving connection between said armature and contact bar including a roller and an adjustable screw contacting therewith.

9. In a transmitter, in combination, a circuit interrupting meansincluding a rocking contact bar, a motorhaving a reciprocatory armature fordriving said contact' bar, a 'ClllVlIlg connection between said armature and contact bar includingaroller and an adustable screw contacting therewith, a con- .trolling tape, and a selective controlling rod pivoted to said contact bar and cooperable selectively with said perforated tape.

10. In a transmitter, in combination, a

rocking contact bar, a tape for controlling said contact bar, a motor for intermittently advancing said tape and including an electro magnet anda reciprocatory armature, a ratchet wheel and a pawl pivoted directly to said reciprocatory armature and cooperating with said ratchet wheel to effect intermittent advancement of'the tape.

11. In a transmitter, in combination, a rocking contact bar, a controlling rod pivot ally connected to said contact bar, a tape for controlling said contact bar through said eontrollingrod, a motor for intermittently advancing said tape and operating said con tact bar and including an electro magnet and a reciprocatory armature, a ratchet wheel, a pawl pivoted directly to said armature and cooperating with said ratchet wheel to effect intermittent advancement of the tape, and an operating connection between said armature and said rocking-bar and including a roller and contacting adjustable screw to vary the relative periods, of make and break of the transmitter contacts.

12. Ina transmitter, in combination, a rocking contact bar, a tape for controlling said contact bar, a motor for intermittently advancing said tape including an electromagnet and a reciprocatory armature, means for mounting said electro-magnet for movement with reference to said arlnatm'e, an adjusting means operable externally of the transmitter for e'li'ecting adjustment of said electro-magnet, a spring connected .to said armature for exerting a force thereon in opposition to the force exerted by said electromagnet, and being adjustable exterualiy of the transmitter and an adjusting means connected with said armature to vary the pe riod of contact of the transmitter.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK SKINNER. 

